FAQs

Typically three to five months. The more deadlines I have, the faster I have to write.

While a few of my ideas have been inspired by a dream, a news story, or a past memory, the majority of them are products of my overactive imagination.

I’ll never tell. Ha ha!

1. Treacherous 2. Inferno 3. Taming the Wolf 4. Seducing the Wolf 5. Recipe for Temptation 6. Tempt Me at Midnight 7. A Holiday Affair 8. This I Promise You 9. Oh Baby

I’ve always been an avid reader of romance and suspense novels. Growing up, I used to devour every Harlequin romance I could get my hands on, but I also enjoyed horror novels by Stephen King, John Saul, and Dean Koontz. So it seemed only natural for me to someday write books that combine two of my favorite genres. There’s nothing like the dynamics between two people who find themselves thrown together against a common enemy, especially when an attraction already exists between them.

Sure! I love to meet with book clubs and participate in discussions about my work. I’m always grateful and excited to have my books chosen for monthly reading selections. At this time, however, I’m not able to travel very far to attend book club meetings. But I am available for teleconference discussions. If you’d like to invite me to be a guest author at your book club meeting, please contact me via email.

Spare time? What’s that??? Ha ha! Seriously though, I love to read, bake desserts, and hang out with my husband and our two children.

No, because then I’d have to kill them. Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

Everything is hard, but for me, starting a book is always the most challenging part. I know how important it is to set the right tone and draw readers into the story right away, so I agonize over the beginning more than any other part of the book.

Be true to your own voice, and don’t ever give up on your dreams.

I’ve learned that success doesn’t come overnight. There are many talented writers out there who may never land a publishing contract, or who may never “make it big.” It takes hard work, determination, and a true love for writing to persevere through all the ups and downs of the publishing industry.

Depends. If I’m writing a tense, emotionally charged scene, background music can be a distraction. If I’m writing a steamy love scene, listening to slow jams can keep my creative, ah, juices flowing.

Writing takes a lot of hard work, patience, and determination. If you’re serious about writing a book, I strongly recommend that you take creative writing classes and/or attend workshops where you can learn about the craft of writing. You can also visit your local library or bookstore, or go online to find articles that give valuable tips on writing and getting published. There are tons of resources out there for aspiring writers. You must do your research.

First, I would NOT recommend using iUniverse or any other print-on-demand (POD) publisher because there are far better options for writers nowadays—namely, self-publishing through Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, etc. (see my other FAQ response about publishing). When I was ready to have my first novel published, I researched a number of POD publishers and chose iUniverse based on strong author testimonials and the affordable services the company provided at the time. Ghosts of Fire sold moderately well, received glowing reviews, and won a few awards. It took a lot of hard work and determination on my part to promote the book, but my efforts paid off when I landed a publishing contract the following year. Before you ask—no, my iUniverse experience had nothing to do with the sale. Self-publishing through iUniverse definitely helped me get a product out there, but the rest was up to me. I had to send out copies of the book to reviewers and to local newspaper editors, I entered contests, I set up book signings, I attended conferences and participated in workshops, etc. In other words, I did whatever was necessary (and within my budget) to promote my book and get my name out there. IF you still decide to self-publish through iUniverse, the Publishing Services Associate (PSA) assigned to you should be able to answer your specific questions. A lot has changed since I used the company back in 2002.

Literary agents are experts in the publishing industry. They have networking contacts with various editors and know better than writers which editors would be most likely to buy their work. Agents can also give writers an added advantage when negotiating contracts. They know the market value of their clients’ work and know how to negotiate contracts so that writers receive fair terms (ideally). At the same time, no agent is better than a bad agent. An agent who is not willing to work hard on their clients’ behalf is not someone you want representing you. And it’s important to note that in this new era of self-publishing, agents aren’t as essential to writers as they once were. Many unagented authors are enjoying successful publishing careers that allow them to retain complete control over their work and keep all of their earnings. If you feel you must work with an agent, please be sure to do your research and know what you’re getting into before you sign on the dotted line. Once you’re ready to begin submitting your manuscript to agents, Writer’s Digest publishes an annual Guide to Literary Agents. It contains a comprehensive listing of literary agents who might be interested in your work, and provides information about various genres they represent, what they’re looking for, the works they’ve sold to publishers, their submission guidelines, etc. Good luck!

Absolutely! The exploding popularity of ebooks has created new and exciting opportunities for writers to publish their books through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, to name just a few. If you’re interested in self-publishing and earning higher royalties, I strongly encourage you to visit these companies’ websites to learn more about their respective publishing programs. And I highly recommend that you check out bestselling author Joe Konrath’s blog “A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing,” as well as The Passive Voice. There’s a wealth of information out there for writers who are interested in self-publishing as an alternative to traditional publishing. Long live the revolution!

If you’re not interested in using a literary agent to submit to publishers, I recommend that you research the different publishing houses, find out which ones are publishing books similar to your own, then submit a query letter to the appropriate editor based on the publisher’s guidelines. Never send a complete manuscript to an editor unless they specifically ask for it. And don’t waste your time (and money) sending queries to houses that do not publish the type of book you’re writing.

See the above answer to find out the best way to contact a publisher.

Unfortunately, no. See, I’m not an editor, agent or writing instructor. Reading and critiquing submissions takes a lot of time. If I did that, I wouldn’t get much else done, namely writing books. And I don’t think my editors or fans would really appreciate that, since they expect me to write books. So please do not send me your work. Pretty please, with sugar on top.

You’re not alone! Every writer I know has received the dreaded rejection letter at some point in their career. If you think you’re getting more than your fair share and you don’t know why, I recommend that you read as many books as possible that are released by your target publisher(s). This will give you a better idea of what editors are looking for. It could be that your writing style fits into another genre, or perhaps the editor just bought a manuscript with a similar storyline to yours. When you receive a rejection letter, don’t be afraid to write the editor back and politely ask for insight into why he/she passed on your book. Editors are super busy, but if you can find one who is willing to give you some constructive feedback, you can really learn a lot from what they tell you. Getting feedback from family and friends is great, but just remember that literature is subjective. What some people may like, others might not. Above all else, I encourage you to be patient and persistent. Don’t allow rejection letters to discourage you. And if you’re doing everything you can to hone your writing skills and to make your book the best it can be, there’s no reason you can’t self-publish. Gone are the days of writers having to depend on publishers to find an audience for their work. There are many independent authors who are enjoying tremendous success because they had enough faith in their work to put it out there. There’s nothing to stop you from doing the same.